Note: Quick thanks to everyone still reading, you guys are the real MVPs. Also if anyone knows of any good (and happy! No dead Fred) stories involving a romance with one or both of the twins please do send recommendations my way.
The moment she heard the knock she flew across her small living room. She ripped the door open, her stomach doing a small somersault of joy when she saw George.
"Hi." The word came out breathy.
His lips quirked up in a smirk. "Hi. I hope I'm not too late for our date."
She tugged him inside, her eagerness making it too difficult to think of anything else to say. She rose up on her toes and he dipped his head for a kiss. It would be a lie to say she hadn't been waiting all day for this. That she hadn't been watching her clock wishing time would hurry up.
His tongue twirled around hers. And then he picked her up and she let out a surprised squeal. He carried her to the sofa where he plopped down with her on his lap. His bulge pressed against her thigh and she bit her bottom lip.
"I was afraid you wouldn't come." It felt silly to admit out loud. The last three weeks had been heaven between dinners and letting him tour her around the area. They'd even attended another Quidditch game together and she'd let him paint her face for it.
"You asked me to come shag you after work and you think I'd miss it?" He shook his head. "You don't understand men in general if you'd think that."
She giggled, only to cut off to a moan when his fingers delved into her panties. She rubbed against him. "I've been waiting all day. I can't wait any longer." She fumbled for his zipper and freed him.
He pulled her back into a kiss, using one hand to shove her panties to the side. And then he was inside her, easing the ache of longing between her legs. Her fingers pressed into his shoulders as she arched her back.
"Mhmm, G-George." She shifted angles and let out a gasp as his cock rubbed against her sweet spot.
He watched her, his eyes half lidded in pleasure. "You're so damn sexy when you get all hot and bothered." His voice came out low and husky. "Love it when you can't wait for me to shag you."
She trembled. Fuck his accent was hot when he talked dirty. After this she wouldn't be able to go back to American men and she hoped she wouldn't have to. They rocked together, his hands touching her all over, his palms feeling scorching hot against her skin. He always felt so damn good. At night she couldn't lie awake and think about him without getting wet. This must be what all her friends had meant when they talked about not being able to keep their hands off their boyfriends. Maybe she was just hitting the sex crazed hormones late. Or George was too sexy to resist, the option she was willing to place her bets on.
She clutched harder at George's shoulders as she drew close to the tipping point. She picked up the pace, eager to reach the finish line. A shaky breath escaped George. He leaned forward to kiss her neck. With a gasping breath she came, her legs squeezing him. He tightened his grip on her, thrust up a few more times, and then he stilled, burying his face against her chest as he came. The tension drained for Lucy's body, leaving nothing but a serene peace behind. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed this. Craved it.
"I could stand to do this a lot more often," George said as he grinned up at her.
"Then you are going to have to visit more often." She buried her face against his neck, giving her body time to settle down. He rubbed her back, his breath tickling her shoulder. She gave herself another minute before peeling herself off him. "Bathroom, Be right back."
When she returned he'd put himself back in order, except for his mussed hair. She curled up against his side and he wrapped an arm around her. He'd changed clothing before coming, but still carried the smell from his shop on him.
"Is it too late for me to be a gentleman and ask how your day was?"
She laughed. "Nothing new since lunch. Anything on your end?" Her head rested against his shoulder. She couldn't help but to cuddle up after sex and he always let her. It was enough to make her melt into him.
"Well I'm free for dinner tomorrow too if you are. Fred…well Fred took off to Paris for three days and isn't coming back until Saturday." The last few weeks spent Fred-free had been great. No interruptions or insults, just her and George enjoying themselves. Sometimes it had taken some maneuvering to avoid him, but she was determined to enjoy herself while it lasted.
"Another work trip?"
"No. He decided he wanted a vacation on short notice. He's been acting so stressed lately I didn't want to tell him no. Besides, we have an employee who is always eager to pick up extra hours. After all the work of getting everything in order to debut our products in America, I'm wondering if I should take a long weekend myself soon."
"I can't remember the last time I took a vacation. Is there anywhere in Ireland out in the countryside that rents for long weekends? I've always dreamed of staying in a little Irish cottage by the sea where I could roam the countryside by day and relax by a fire at night."
"Sounds a bit romantic." George tweaked her nose.
"It could be if you came along. How do you feel about sheep and old ruins?" She rubbed his arm.
"Do I get to pet any of the sheep?"
"Fair question." The oven timer dinged and she shot up. "I almost forgot about the pie." He followed her into the kitchen, watching as she pulled an apple pie out of the oven. She beamed at him. "You made me homemade pizza from your mother's recipe so I thought it fair that I make you a recipe from my childhood too. This was one of my favorite pies my grandmother used to make. I figured since I'm American, feeding you apple pie felt right." Steam curled up from the pie and she felt the urge to fist pump. She'd been terrified the pie would come out a sloppy mess but no, it was picture perfect.
"Very American. I'll be sure to eat far too much of it after dinner." He eyed the pie up in a way that let her know he was looking forward to it. "Oh." He snapped his fingers. "Before I forget, are you coming to the Quidditch match Saturday? It might rain but it takes more than that for Oliver to cancel on us, as if he doesn't get enough game time in with his real team."
"That's this Saturday? I forgot." The smell of the pie made her stomach rumble. She'd thought far enough ahead to put a stew in the crockpot and even baked some homemade bread. She was going for impressing him tonight and she hoped that together the meal would do its job. He'd been thrilled about the last loaf. Apparently his mother made almost everything homemade and she decided to rise to the challenge. While she was used to cooking for herself, she'd never realized how lumpy her bread looked until she served it to George.
He hooked an arm around her waist. "You're coming, right? I was hoping you might be so impressed with my bludger hits you would come back to my place after." He gave her his charming grin. "I thought I could drag you onto the roof for some stargazing. That makes girls weak in the knees, right?"
"Yeah, of course." If it made him happy she'd be there. Maybe she'd even get a goal or two. Ah, but Fred would be there too. George bent down and kissed her on the head, chasing her worries away as she melted back into him.
Emily was back. And this time with another friend in Katie's place, some girl named Clara who sported some seriously toned arms Lucy couldn't help to be envious of. Damn Katie for being busy. Both girls eyed up the twins like they were meat. At least she wouldn't have to be on their team. She got to be on Oliver's and George's team. Also Fred's, but the goofy grin he gave his brother as they high fived during team drawings almost made him look endearing. Almost.
Emily and Clara glared at her as the teams divided onto each side. Remembering how terrible Emily had been gave Lucy no worries, but those arms on Clara seemed like a very good reason to worry. Clara tapped her beater's bat against her leg looking every bit like she was plotting murder. Her pixie cut made her look fierce instead of cute. The perfect appearance for a brutal Quidditch match.
"Ready to go win?" George grinned as Hermione grabbed Ron's whistle.
"Same rules as always," Oliver reminded everyone. "No aiming for the head, try not to break yours or anyone else's bones if you can help it, and most importantly, remember to have fun. Sore losers have to buy to buy drinks."
"Ready?" Hermione asked. A chorus of affirmatives answered her. A minute later she blew the whistle, the shrill sound sending everyone racing into the air.
Lucy did her best to focus on the quaffle instead of trying to track George. His headband sporting cartoonish golden snitches made him easy to tell apart from Fred. The silliness of his headbands was too adorable and the confidence he wore them with made her want kiss him. Then again she always wanted to kiss and rub against him. The last time she'd felt so head over heels was when she was fourteen and her crush picked up the quill she'd dropped. Her hormones made her feel like a teenager all over again.
Ten minutes into the game she scored her first goal. Her heart raced at the thrill and it took all her self-control to not spend her time looking to see if George noticed. Two minutes later Luna stole the quaffle back from Emily when Emily's toss went wide. Luna tossed it to Lucy. She reached for it only to spot a bludger sailing her way. Right at her head. She jerked her broom down and fumbled for the quaffle but her new angle was all wrong. The ball slipped through her fingers.
Emily grabbed the ball and stuck her tongue out at Lucy. A second bludger whizzed Lucy's way, this one George intercepted. He sent it toward Emily, causing her to dodge too far away to make a toss to her teammates. She wound up with Luna and Lucy on either side of her, blocking her in. When her shot at making a goal inevitably failed, Luna caught the ball. The chase started anew as they made their way back down the field, Emily struggling to intercept. Lucy spotted Clara, saw her aiming to take a shot. She passed the quaffle to Luna in time to dodge the bludger, sending it rocketing into Emily's foot instead. Emily let out a howl.
Lucy didn't get the ball back. Instead Luna passed it back and forth with their third chaser. Every time they tried to toss it her way, Clara sent a bludger after her. And then it no longer matter if she was anywhere near the ball. Clara continued to send bludgers her way. George moved in to play guard.
After he blocked his third bludger from her Lucy flew in closer to him. "I think she's targeting me!" She shouted to be heard. He nodded.
"I'll keep an eye on her." He darted around her to go chasing after the closest bludger as Ginny dodged it with practiced ease. She searched for Luna and rushed to catch back up to her as she neared the goal posts. Spotting Emily, she cut her off, stopping her from getting too close to Luna. Then Luna scored her fourth goal and Lucy caught sight of Fred and George chasing after Clara. They knocked a bludger back and forth as they kept pace with her, forcing her to spend her time dodging them.
It got her to let up on Lucy for the second half of the game. The game was quick with the horn blaring at just past the half hour mark to announce the snitch had been caught. Lucy stopped flying, her gaze searching to see who'd caught it. Ginny held up her hand in victory, the wings of the snitch fluttering between her fingers. A win for her team then.
A bludger rammed into the back of her right shoulder, sending her broom into a spin as a burst of pain made her let go of the broom with her right hand. She yanked her broom to a standstill. Then she headed for the ground, dropping her broom as soon as she landed. Pain radiated out like sharp needles from her shoulder.
"Luce, you okay?" George landed beside her.
"My shoulder. What's wrong with it?" She turned it toward him.
He pulled her sleeve up and winced. "Got a good bruise already that's for sure."
"I can't move it!" Panic swelled inside her. She tried again, the wave of pain sending her to her knees.
"It's dislocated," Hermione said as she peered around George. "This is going to hurt for a moment."
"Wh—" A gasp of pain tore from her as Hermione charmed the joint back into place.
"You should put some ice on it to help the swelling go down."
"I saw it," Fred said as he landed next to them. "Clara did it while Lucy was distracted by Ginny catching the snitch. I've been tailing her to steal her bludgers."
A mottle of red shot across George's face. "Oliver!" he bellowed.
"Come on, let them figure it out." Hermione patted her on the back. "Let's get some ice."
With an ice pack on her shoulder Lucy sat and watched as Clara waved her arms around. Emily stood behind her, George and Oliver in front of her. Fred stood off to the side watching as though he wasn't sure whether or not to get involved.
"—Can't prove it!" Clara shouted. She was the only one talking loud enough for Lucy to hear snatches of conversation from. "Accident—I did not!" Clara stomped her foot.
A few minutes later the argument ended with Clara flying off and Emily struggling to catch up.
"Banned I bet," Hermione said. "After what Angelina pulled at her last game Oliver doesn't do second chances."
"I think she spent most of the game watching me. As mad as I am, I'm almost impressed by how many times she almost got me with a bludger."
"Bludgers are the worst part of the game in my opinion. Too barbaric." Hermione eyed up the cookies for several seconds before picking one.
George jogged over, his gaze falling to the ice pack. "You doing okay?"
She nodded. "I'll be fine. Could use a painkiller though."
"Lucky for you I've got some good stuff in my medicine cabinet." He held out a hand to help her up.
Fred approached with cautious steps, his gaze darting between them. "You heading home?"
"Yeah. Need to take care of Luce's shoulder."
Fred shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'll stay out for a bit then. I'll be back tonight."
"Don't forget to check in with Mum. You promised her a picture of you by the Eiffel Tower."
"I won't forget."
Lucy reached for her cookies, emptying them onto a plate and filling the container with other goodies to sample back at George's.
"Try not to stay out too late tonight, yeah?" George whispered barely loud enough for Lucy to hear.
"Don't mother me," Fred grumbled as he headed for the drinks.
"See it?" George held up a second mirror to show her the bruise. She cringed when she caught sight of it. The circular bruise was an angry dark blue.
"That's not going away any time soon."
"Don't worry, I'll be extra gentle for the next two weeks." He pressed a kiss an inch away from the bruise."
"Always a gentleman."
He smiled against her skin. "But you got your first Quidditch badge. Now you can feel like a true chaser."
She groaned. "If this is what you consider a badge I don't want any more." An idea formed and she perked up. "Do I get to play the pity card so you'll cook me dinner?"
He let out a hum. "Conniving. I can respect that. Only the best of average food for you at Chez Weasley."
"Average food? Can't wait."
He chuckled. He caught her gaze in the mirror and put on his best puppy dog look. "Stay the night? How else will I be able to nurse you all better?"
"Would Fred mind? I don't want to step on any toes."
"It's fine. We have an understanding. The rule is sex has to stay in the bedroom so we don't walk in on one another."
She let her shirt fall down over her bruise. "Please, if that rule was made for a reason don't tell me the story."
"Don't worry, I'm the good one."
He had no idea how much she agreed.
"Is the painkiller kicking in?"
"Yes. Wait, no. I mean…it's awful George and I'm so hungry." She pouted at him.
He pressed his lips together to try to hide his amusement. "How about we head into the kitchen. I'll cook us up something while you sit and look pretty."
"Deal." She clapped her hands together in excitement. Her ex had never made her feel quite so pampered. If she'd realized anything over the past few weeks it was that she didn't want to let George go. She needed to find a way to make peace with Fred before a problem started between them again. She had no choice if she wanted to win George.
By the middle of the night the painkiller wore off. She woke up nestled against George's side, her shoulder aching up a storm. He didn't wake as she slid away, his light snores staying even. She kept the lights off to keep from waking him, forcing her to stand in the doorway to the kitchen to wait while her eyes adjusted to the dark. The bottle sat on the kitchen counter waiting for her. She popped it open and grabbed a glass of water. Her shoulder bumped against the fridge and a hiss of pain escaped her. Her hand turned into a claw as she resisted the urge to rub the bruise. That would only make it hurt worse. Clara better hope they never met again or Lucy would be tempted to try out a transfiguration charm on her.
With her glass in hand she headed for the sofa. There she could watch the street while she waited for the pill to kick in. Back when she couldn't sleep after her attacks he'd spent long nights staring out the window. A calico cat ran down the sidewalk and darted up a tree. A car passed by and then the road plunged back into silence. It was so much quieter than her flat where she could hear her youngest neighbors partying during the weekend. She thought back to her idea to spend a weekend in a cottage by the sea. As much as she wanted to go, it wouldn't be as much fun without George. A romantic weekend away would be paradise.
The front door creaked and she froze. Fred stepped into the room and turned to slowly shut the door, making as little noise as possible.
"Do you realize it's two-thirty in the morning?" she whispered.
His head swiveled toward her, his hand frozen on the door knob. The light scent of booze wafted off him.
"What the fuck, Lucy? What are you doing here?"
She glared at him. What was it about him that always made her hackles rise? "George invited me to stay the night and my shoulder woke me up. Believe me I wasn't sitting here waiting for you. Are you drunk?"
"No, but don't tell George how late I was out."
"Why not? How many secrets do I need to keep for you?"
He closed the gap between them too quickly for her to move out of the way. "It upsets him. He doesn't need to know."
"Maybe he does need to know."
"No!" He leaned closer, the smell of alcohol much stronger on his breath. She wrinkled her nose and met his stare. Then his shoulders slumped. "I already told him about the other thing, okay? So keep this one a secret for me because you're nice."
"When did you tell him? He never mentioned it." George would have brought it up, wouldn't he? How could he ignore her stealing his brother's wand for a day?
A car drove past and he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the headlights. "Ugh. Last week. He got mad because he's so serious about you and I almost screwed everything up for him. I went to Paris to give him space."
"If you staying out late drinking upsets him then how about you don't do it?"
"It's not that easy." He slid onto the couch, his head falling against the back cushion. "Sometimes when I can't sleep at night I remember and I hate remembering." With half his face pressed against the cushion his words were hard to understand.
She considered his words, wondering whether she should pry or not. Curiosity won out. "What do you remember?"
"Hogwarts. The death eaters who attacked. George and I were there at the battle. A death eater was trying to kill George so I killed him first. I killed a man." His eyes fluttered shut. "I'd always kill him over letting Georgie die, but not feeling guilty makes me feel guilty. Like I killed a man and don't regret it. That makes me a monster, doesn't it?"
"I think it makes you human to care more about those you love."
He shook his head, the motion exaggerated in his half-drunken state. "Fuck, I think I'm drunk. I'm always fucking things up for George too. Angelina tore my heart out and ate it but she hurt George and I can't forgive her for that. And Mum, she wanted a picture of me at the Eiffel Tower and the whole time all I could think about is how ashamed she'd be if she knew I was only there to run away from everything. I promised George I'd quit drinking, but here I am." He held his arms out. "The twin who can't get his shit together." He let out a groan. "Don't leave my Georgie because of me, okay? He needs someone who loves him and I don't want to ruin his life too."
She watched him, pity eating away at the hard feelings she held toward him. Maybe this was her chance, she thought, her chance to make up with him for George's sake. "Fred." She gave his shoulder an awkward pat. "The therapist I went to after my attack once told me we are our own harshest critics. I remind myself of that all the time. Maybe you should remember that too."
He frowned. A long moment of silence passed and she got up to grab her purse. She fished out the business card from the front pocket. She grabbed Fred's hand and folded his fingers over it. "I went looking for possibilities after I attacked you. Thought it might be good to have a place on hand if I spiraled. I hear she's a great therapist. Might do you some good to make an appointment. And remember, looking after yourself is nothing to be ashamed of." She'd told herself the same thing countless times when she'd felt embarrassed about seeing a therapist.
He squinted at the card. Then he looked up at her, an unreadable expression on his face. "Thanks." His voice cracked on the word.
"No problem. Go get some sleep." She ruffled his hair like he was a kid and for the first time earned half a smile that didn't make her feel like the butt of one of his jokes.